During a sectoral debate series at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, addressed members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, shedding light on the multifaceted challenges contributing to the current food insecurity in Nigeria.
Kyari attributed the challenges to a combination of factors, including the depletion of food reserves, insecurity, flooding, naira redesign, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, among others. He highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s recognition of the food security challenge, which led to the declaration of a food security emergency in July 2023 and the subsequent renaming of the ministry to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The minister emphasized the historical and contemporary dimensions of the issues, citing factors such as insecurity and farmer-herder clashes, COVID-19 disruptions, and flooding as significant contributors to food production challenges. He also pointed out the adverse effects of the policy of naira redesign on rural farmers’ access to banking services.
Kyari outlined the government’s response to address the situation, including the launch of dry season farming initiatives. He reported significant progress in wheat cultivation in Jigawa State, with plans to expand rice, maize, and cassava production in subsequent phases. The minister emphasized the importance of incentivizing farmers for year-round production and leveraging abandoned irrigation facilities in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
In addition to agricultural interventions, Kyari revealed plans for the distribution of assorted grains to vulnerable Nigerians and highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance agricultural mechanization. He announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with John Deere to import tractors to address the country’s deficit in functional agricultural machinery.
During the debate, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, addressed concerns about the importation of food into the country. He emphasized the exemption of fertilizers and related agricultural inputs from value-added tax (VAT) while cautioning against excessive food imports that could undermine local production efforts.
Adeniyi also hinted at a forthcoming decision on the reopening of borders between Nigeria and Niger, indicating ongoing discussions to address border management issues.
In conclusion, the minister’s remarks underscored the government’s commitment to tackling food insecurity through a multifaceted approach that includes agricultural interventions, mechanization, and policy measures to enhance local production and food sufficiency.
